Chapter 65 — The Fires Below
The city lights stretched far below Mindy's apartment window, faint and soft beneath the mist. She sat at her desk, staring at her idle tablet, at various news.
She hadn't realized how long she'd been staring.
Her coffee had gone cold.
She sighed and leaned back in her chair. The others were probably doing the same, waiting for the next broadcast. They never said it outright, but after each one ended, there was always a strange silence in the group chat, like everyone was lost in thought.
She muttered under her breath, "That world…"
Her thoughts drifted again, this time to another topic entirely, a memory from earlier that day.
That kid in green.
The so-called "hero."
She crossed her arms, smirking faintly to herself. "That dork. No idea what he's doing, swinging around trying to 'save people' without even knowing how to throw a proper punch."
The smirk faded.
But then again… he meant it. She could tell.
He really wanted to make the world better.
"Still," she whispered, her voice low, "guts alone gets you killed. I'm not ready to see another person die for nothing."
Her eyes lowered. The quiet hum of her apartment filled the silence.
Then, a ding sounded
The familiar blue icon pulsed softly, A panel appeared.
A new message appeared on the panel.
[Gaius Thassor Maximor has started a live broadcast.]
[Join] [No]
Her eyes widened.
Without hesitation, she pressed Join.
The room dissolved around her. Light flooded her vision, then faded.
When Mindy's sight cleared, she stood once again as a virtual projection, aboard the Oath of Rectitude, the Ultramarine strike cruiser.
In front of her was Gaius.
He stood on a steel platform overlooking the viewing deck. His golden armor caught the dim light, reflections tracing the engraved sigils along the plates. Resting across his shoulder was a massive auramite warhammer, its head glowing faintly, steady and warm, like sunlight trapped in metal.
Below the deck viewport, a planet turned slowly in the void.
It was dark and red, streaked with black clouds that churned like thick smoke and blood.
Behind Gaius stood his squad, nine Ultramarines in formation, and among them, two wearing the sleeker, more advanced armor of the Primaris. Their presence was heavy and still, like statues forged for war.
Mindy blinked. "Where… are we this time?"
Tony's voice answered, materializing beside her. "Judging by the view, i'd say we are in the deck."
Naruto laughed nervously. "The planet looked quite scary."
Naruto also has learned a lot of terms and knowledge thanks to the patient teaching of Saeko and Mindy, So now he knows what the term planet means.
Saeko appeared next to them, her eyes tracing the glowing lines across the warhammer. "That must be his new weapon."
Diana arrived last, silent but alert, scanning their surroundings.
Gaius spoke at last, his voice steady and low.
"We stand above the world designated Cygnus-IX. Once loyal to the Imperium. Now fallen to Chaos."
The group fell silent.
He turned toward the viewing deck, watching the world below.
"Our mission is to locate any surviving Astartes from the last campaign, if they are indeed still alive we will assist in completing the mission."
A heavy door hissed open as a Techmarine entered, his armor lined with red cables and mechanical limbs. Sparks of light flickered from his servo-arm as he saluted.
"Captain, the drop pod is ready for descent."
Gaius nodded. "Prepare the coordinates. We'll land where the enemy's corruption runs deepest."
The Techmarine's helmet lenses glowed red as he began entering commands.
Below them, machinery shifted, a deep rumble echoed through the floor.
One of the launch bays came alive with motion. Hydraulic clamps released. The drop pod descended into its ready position.
Mindy felt a faint tremor in the air, the soundless vibration of power and ritual.
As the others watched, the squad of Ultramarines dispersed to their duties. Only the two Primaris remained.
They approached and saluted silently. Their movements were disciplined, precise, and calm.
Gaius faced them, his warhammer still resting easily across his shoulder. "You two are with me."
The Primaris nodded and entered the drop pod.
The others, Tony, Naruto, Mindy, Saeko, and Diana, followed him virtually, appearing inside the drop pod's compartment.
The walls were lined with steel seats, harness locks, and glowing runes. In the center stood a tall column surrounded by faint blue light.
Naruto leaned closer, curious. "What's that thing in the middle?"
as he encountered it before in Gaius broadcast last time, but he didn't what it was for.
He mentally said "Identification" activating the Identification. A small blue panel appeared in front of them.
Central Core / Machine Spirit Column (Drop Pod Command Node):
Located at the heart of the drop pod, this core houses the control cogitators, stabilization gyros, and descent systems. It governs trajectory, impact dampening, and door release upon landing. The Machine Spirit within ensures proper function through ritual maintenance and binharic prayer before deployment.
Tony whistled. "So this machine… has a spirit?"
Saeko tilted her head. "A.I?"
Tony frowned, deep in thought. "No A.I, Gaius said that A.I are banned in the imperium, so this machine truly has a spirit."
Naruto blinked. "Doesn't that mean it's alive."
Diana said quietly, "Maybe."
They turned as the two Primaris took their seats opposite Gaius. Their armor gleamed blue and gold under the pod's inner light.
Diana glanced at them and used Identification again.
Tiber Alarion (Primaris Ultramarine Recruit):
Age 30. A newly forged warrior of Ultramar, recently assigned to Captain Gaius. Disciplined, quiet, and loyal to the Codex Astartes.
Decius Varren (Primaris Ultramarine Recruit):
Age 28. Gene-forged on Macragge. Skilled marksman and calm under pressure. Fresh from training and eager to prove his worth.
Diana whispered, "They're… younger than I thought."
Tony nodded. "but still stronger compared to our soldiers."
Gaius locked his harness and placed the warhammer beside him, securing it magnetically to the wall.
He said calmly, "Brace yourselves."
The Techmarine's voice came through the comms: "Launch sequence initiated."
With a deep roar, the drop pod ejected from the ship.
The world blurred.
Mindy felt her whole body lurch, though it wasn't real, it was only because of the visual, that confused her body. Flames streaked past the viewport as the pod tore through the atmosphere. The projections, Tony, Naruto, and the rest, were pulled along, following within a ten-meter radius of Gaius's location.
Outside, the planet filled their view.
The clouds churned like liquid blood mixed with oil.
Bolts of red lightning cut through them, flashing across the sky like veins of molten fire.
Diana's eyes glowed faintly. Her senses expanded. using the identification ability of the multiversal chat of what ever is in front of her.
A panel appeared before her.
Corrupted Cloud Formations:
The planet's skies churn with clouds of blood and oil. Lightning flickers within them like veins of molten metal. Their unnatural hue reflects the corruption that taints the land below, a world consumed by Chaos.
She whispered, "This entire world is like this?"
The pod continued its descent, shaking violently before slowing. The retro-thrusters roared, throwing up storms of dust as they hit the ground.
Then, silence.
With a loud hiss, the pod's doors exploded open.
Gaius stepped out first.
His golden armor shone through the dust. The auramite warhammer rested on his shoulder, its glowing sigils cutting through the dim red light of the dying sun.
Behind him, the two Primaris emerged, bolters mag-locked at their sides, taking formation to his left and right.
All around them, twisted ruins and scorched stone. The wind howled through the broken valley.
Naruto squinted. "This place… it's like the land is dead."
Then came the sound, hundreds of voices, screaming in the distance.
From the dark ridges, Chaos cultists poured forth, charging without fear, their eyes burning with madness.
Mindy's heart jumped. "They're, human?"
Gaius didn't move. He waited until they were close enough to see the symbols carved into their flesh.
Then, with both hands, he lifted the hammer.
And swung.
The impact hit like thunder.
The ground cracked, a shockwave tearing through the cultists ahead. Those closest were thrown backward, their weapons scattering into the dust. The air rippled from the sheer force.
The two Primaris charged next, their movements precise and brutal, no wasted motion, no fear. They used their combat knives and fists, conserving ammunition.
Tony muttered in awe, "That hammer weighs a few hundred kilos, easy, and he's swinging it like it's nothing."
Naruto used Identification on one of the cultists still crawling forward despite broken limbs.
Chaos Cultist (Traitor Insurrectionist):
A human follower of Chaos. Retains a mostly human form but twisted by madness and corruption. Fights with blind faith, eager to die for false gods.
Naruto clenched his fists. "They don't even care if they die."
Gaius didn't look back. He simply spoke over the roar of battle.
"They are lost to reason. Show no pity to the damned."
With another swing, he crushed the ground before him. The shockwave sent debris flying. The two Primaris flanked him, clearing what was left.
As the dust settled, silence fell again. Only the wind remained.
The group's virtual projections hovered nearby, silent, awed.
Mindy looked at the shattered field. "Gaius's strength are truly monstrous…"
Tony crossed his arms. "Indeed, these enemy are no match for him."
Gaius looked toward the horizon, the warhammer resting once again across his shoulder. "We continue. The signal of Captain Titus lies ahead."
He started walking forward, steady and unshaken, as the world around them burned red beneath the corrupted sky.
~~~
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